SAN DIEGO – In an exciting conclusion to the regular season, Air Force secured a 31-20 victory over San Diego State on Saturday night. Quentin Hayes showcased his versatility by throwing for a touchdown while also rushing for another. Dylan Carson played a pivotal role as well, amassing 125 rushing yards and crossing the goal line twice after 24 carries.

The Falcons set the tone early, taking the first kickoff and marching down the field for 81 yards over nine plays. A pivotal 52-yard reception and run by Brandon Engel brought them to the one-yard line, where Carson powered through for the opening touchdown. Later, a commanding 10-play drive entirely composed of runs culminated in Hayes scoring from a yard out, giving Air Force a commanding 14-7 lead just before the close of the first quarter.

After a challenging stretch, the Falcons turned their season around by winning their final four games following a disheartening seven-game losing streak. In the second half, Hayes found Cade Harris at midfield, who sprinted 76 yards for a touchdown, extending the lead to 24-14 with 8:03 left in the third quarter. Carson further padded the lead with a 14-yard touchdown run around seven minutes later, putting the Falcons ahead 31-14.

For the Aztecs, Marquez Cooper, who rushed for 94 yards in total, made significant contributions with a 7-yard touchdown run that leveled the score at 7-7 with six minutes remaining in the first quarter. He later scored again from two yards out just before halftime, reducing San Diego State’s deficit to 17-14.

Unfortunately for the Aztecs, this defeat marked the end of the season, extending their losing streak to six games, finishing with a record of 3-9 overall and 2-5 in conference play. Meanwhile, the Falcons concluded their regular season at 4-7, with a Mountain West record of 2-4.